Nitrate Levels Too High

[ffishh]

I recently fed my fish some seaweed, he ate all of it and I removed the bits left in the clip, but the nitrate levels still went way up, all the way to 160 ppm. I did a tank change, and it went down to 80 ppm, but it won't go down. ive done one more tank change about a week later and it didn't go down.

i'm assuming it's a waste problem, since i've always used tap water and the levels have been fine, but ive scrubbed everything and cycled the gravel and it isn't helping.

edit: I forgot to mention that all other levels, ph, nitrite, and ammonia, are all fine.

 

[Donthemon]

Do water changes every other day or so until they are down.

 

[Señor Pescado]

If you're not already using 'Prime' with your water changes, I would start dosing with it to minimize the stress on your fish from the high Nitrate ppm. Best of luck.

 

[JDK426]

Agreed Seachem Prime will minimize the levels for less stress on your fish.
And also water changes every day or two, but I would also cut back on the amount of food being given until levels get more stable

 

[Gone]

Something is overloading your tank with nitrates. If your nitrates were at 160 ppm, and you did a 50% water change and they dropped to 80 ppm, then a week later you did another 50% water change and your numbers were still 80 ppm, whatever caused the spike in the first place is still present.

Unless you have a rotting carcass in the tank the most likely cause would be overfeeding.

It is a waste problem. The first component of waste creation is the amount of food put into the tank.